Milk collector and shield for nursing women

ABSTRACT

The embodiment shown is a two-piece device for protecting the breast nipple of a nursing woman and for collecting seeping milk. The breast-contacting component has a central opening for the nipple and a cover is provided to form a hollow interior compartment where the excess milk is stored.

[451 Oct. 8, 1974 United States Patent [191 Rushton, Jr.

[ MILK COLLECTOR AND SHIELD FOR NURSING WOMEN [76] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant ExaminerG. F. DunneAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Stuart S. Bowie [22] Filed:

[57] ABSTRACT The embodiment shown is a two- 52 us. 128/280, l28/46l Pidevlce for P 511 rm. A6lm 1/06 tectlngfihe PP of a nursmg Woman and for[53] Field of Search 128/280 461 collecting seepmg milk. Thebreast-contacting component has a central opening for the nipple and acover [56] References Cited is provided to form a hollow interiorcompartment FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS where the excess milk isstored.

.. 128/280 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 84,440 10/1954 Norway........

MILK COLLECTOR AND SHIELD FOR NURSING WOMEN BRIEF SUMMARY For manywomen, the breast feeding of their infants is a desired objective. Butthis practice has an associated undesirable side effect, namely, theleaking" of milk by the mother in the periods between nursing. Such milksoils clothing and can be embarrassing. In addition, the breasts andnipples of the nursing mother become sensitive and can easily bepainfully irritated if not protected.

These annoying problems, of course, are not new. For example DanielsU.S. Pat. No. 166,686 granted in 1875 states: It is a well-known factthat many females suffer great annoyance and inconvenience from theescape of milk from their breasts. And in Seidl U.S. Pat. No. 3,532,096(1970) the inventor observes it is a known fact that a substantialpercentage of mothers who are breast feeding babies are suffering fromirritated breast nipples.

These practical problems and related aspects have been the subject ofnumerous prior art efforts. See, eg, Wilder US. Pat. No. 66,978 (1867);Parker U.S. Pat. No. 16,396 (1857); McLaughlin U.S. Pat. No. 77,393(1868); Pattee U.S. Pat. No. 296,609; Stern U.S. Pat. No. 1,012,473(1911); Meynier U.S. Pat. No. 2,364,866 (1944); Abramson U.S. Pat. No.2,495,307 (1950); London U.S. Pat. No. 2,891,544 (1959); and FitzgeraldU.S. Pat. No. 2,896,623 (1959).

None of the aforementioned prior efforts have proved entirelysatisfactory, however. For example, the Daniels patent requires the useof tubes leading from breast covers to a flask, a cumbersome assembly.The device, like the others mentioned, utilizes rubber caps or coverswhich creates a certain sanitation problem, since rubber is difficult toclean. In the case of devices such as that shown in Pattee U.S. Pat. No.296,609 (1884) involving the use of closed hollow rubber devices,adequate cleanliness would be most difficult to maintain as a practicalmatter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Additional objects and advantages of myinvention are set forth in the following detailed description of onepreferred embodiment, claims and in the drawings, wherein I FIG. 1 is aperspective view of a preferred embodiment of the combinationshield-milk collector showing the device as assembled for wearing.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the components of the devicedisassembled.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The breast protector-milk collection device(hereinafter collector for simplicity) can be in the form of the device20 shown in FIGS. l-3.

Thus, the collector 20 comprises a base 21 in the form of a generallyround member having an upstanding peripheral lip 22 the top portion ofwhich is re- Abramson U.S. Pat. No. 2,495,307 (1950) discloses a singlepiece shield and discloses the use of plastic to improve the ability ofthe device to be cleaned. This device has an internal open pocket forthe collection of seeping milk, but suffers from the drawback, interalia, that the collected milk will spill out when the pocket is full orwhen the mother bends over.

London U.S. Pat. 'No. 2,891,544 (1959) and Fitzgerald U.S. Pat. No.2,896,623 (1959) both show breast pads designed to absorb excess lactealfluid. These devices are expensive because they must be discarded afteruse and preclude collection of the milk for subsequent use. I

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved breastprotector-milk collection device for nursing women.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of adevice'which securely collects and stores lacteal fluid discharges in asanitary fashion so that the milk can be subsequently used.

Another feature comprises the provision of a cleanablecollector-protector device which, in one embodiment, may comprise a pairof mating or inter-locking clear plastic shells designed to bedisassembled after use and subjected to complete sterilization andwashmg.

duced in thickness to form a peripheral shoulder 23. The base 21 may beconsidered to have a front 24 and a rear 25. The rear surface 25 isconcave to receive the breast and the corresponding front surface 24 isconvex, as shown. The Center of the base 21 has a hole 26 surrounded bya collar 27 which extends from the front surface 24. The hole 26 andcollar 27 receive the nipple of the nursing mothers breast.

The other component of the collector 20 is a cover 30. Cover 30 isroughly semi-hemispherical or cupshaped and has a convex outer surface21 and a corresponding concave inner surface 32. The edge of thecomponent 30 is formed into a lip 33 substantially parallel to thecentral axis thereof and has a reduced terminal portion which forms aperipheral shoulder 34. The shoulder 34 is formed on .the interior ofthe cover 30 and the shoulder 23 is formed on the exterior of base 21.The base 21 and cover 30 are of the same diameter and their lips 22 and33 are designed to fit together in a sealed relationship, as shown,simply by a pressure fit.

Of course, if desired, the edges could be threaded to provide a screw-onarrangement.

When assembled as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the rear surface 25 is placedagainst the breast so that the nipple thereof protrudes through the hole26. Seepi ng milk then drops into the hollow cavity 40 of the device andis thereby collected. A smallport 35 may be provided at the top of thedevice for pouring our the collected milk, if desired.

The devices 20 are worn under the bassiere and are maintained inposition thereby.

In addition to collecting seeping milk and thereby preventing annoyingand embarrassing stains and'wet spots on clothing, the device 20 alsofunctions as a shield which protects the tender nipples of the nursingmother from irritating contact with the brassiere or other clothing.

The device is designed to be disassembled, as indicated, to facilitatecleaning. This makes it possible to thoroughly clean the inside of thedevice in contrast to certain prior art devices. Preferably, the devicesare made of clear plastic. This feature aids in sanitation, as plasticcan be readily sterilized and mechanically washed.

The foregoing description illustrates preferred embodiments of myinvention. However, the concepts employed may, based upon suchdescription, be employed in other embodiments without departing from thescope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are intendedto protect the invention broadly, as well as in the specific forms shownherein.

I claim:

1. A two-piece, cleanable, re-usable milk collector for nursing womencomprising:

a. A substantially round base having i. An upstanding circumferentiallip;

ii. An interior portion sloping upwardly and inwardly from said lip andterminating to form an opening substantially in the middle of the base;

iii. An upstanding collar surrounding said opening;

plastic.

1. A two-piece, cleanable, re-usable milk collector for nursing womencomprising: a. A substantially round base having i. An upstandingcircumferential lip; ii. An interior portion sloping upwardly andinwardly from said lip and terminating to form an opening substantiallyin the middle of the base; iii. An upstanding collar surrounding saidopening; b. A substantially round, convex cover having a lowercircumferential lip; c. Said base and cover being connected by frictionengagement of the said circumferential lips to provide an interior milkstorage compartment whereby the device receives milk through the collarand stores and same in said compartment and whereby the milk can beremoved from said compartment and the device disconnected for athorough, sanitary cleaning after each use.
 2. The invention of claim 1wherein the cover has a port for discharging collected milk.
 3. Theinvention of claim 1 wherein the collector is plastic.